*** Holy Cross @ New Hampshire ***

[crusader11]

I'd say this is easily the biggest non-conference FCS game of the week as Holy Cross, a borderline top 25 team, visits top 10 New Hampshire.

I think this game will be a great barometer of how good Holy Cross is and how they compare with Lehigh. Having had two weeks to prepare for this one, the Cross will give UNH all they can handle.

I'll be making the trek up from Atlanta for this one!

Thoughts from UNH, Holy Cross, Patriot League, and CAA posters on this one???

[NHwildEcat]

My thoughts are this...UNH will win, but give up a ton of points as has been the trend. I hope it doesn't rain too hard during the game as I don't want to catch ill afterwards :)

[Bogus Megapardus]

I will guess an over/under of 64. Like last week's Lehigh vs Liberty game, I think the last team in possession wins here. Calling forth a generations-old expression of dubious etymology, this one should be a "humdinger!"

[LUHawker]

I will guess an over/under of 64. Like last week's Lehigh vs Liberty game, I think the last team in possession wins here. Calling forth a generations-old expression of dubious etymology, this one should be a "humdinger!"

Not to be a nitpicker, BM, but Liberty had the last possession.

[danefan]

Any TV or interwebs coverage for this one?

Should be a good game.

[crusader11]

Available via the UNH athletic website for $9.95.

[Bogus Megapardus]

Not to be a nitpicker, BM, but Liberty had the last possession.

I must be getting old. No, wait - now that I remember it, my ESPN3 feed died with about 2:00 to go so I missed the very end. I guess it just seemed like Lehigh won the game with the ball in its hands.



Available via the UNH athletic website for $9.95.

This seems like it should be an ESPN3 kind of game. Is this really the first game vs New Hampshire since the Sader87 days?

[colorless raider]

Good luck Cross!

[Go...gate]

Good luck Cross!

Ditto that - hope you guys win.

[Brad82]

Holy cross might wish this game was off the schedule afterwards.
Christians vs. the lions in this one!
3 TD win for UNH!

[Wildcat80]

Holy cross might wish this game was off the schedule afterwards.
Christians vs. the lions in this one!
3 TD win for UNH!

Yeah UNH Christians....uhh....I hope you are right but I'm feeling more of a whoever has the ball last kinda game.

[Bogus Megapardus]

Two great colleges go toe to toe. I want them both to win. Familial partisanship has me pulling for the Crusaders, but this is real "college football" as it should be played.

[crusader11]

real "college football"

Not sure if my colleague, '87, would agree.

[crusader11]

Holy cross might wish this game was off the schedule afterwards.
Christians vs. the lions in this one!
3 TD win for UNH!

The disparity in talent is not nearly as wide as you think. UNH is probably the better team, but it shouldn't surprise anyone if HC is within a possession in the 4th quarter. Heck, non-scholarship Lehigh was a play or two away from beating UNH.

[Bogus Megapardus]

Not sure if my colleague, '87, would agree.

Then he's insane. How possibly could there be a better game to kick off October for the College of the Holy Cross than this one? This game IS college football.

[UNHFootballAlum]

I hope it stays dry. UNH seems to have difficulty playing well in torrential downpours at home

[WrenFGun]

The disparity in talent is not nearly as wide as you think. UNH is probably the better team, but it shouldn't surprise anyone if HC is within a possession in the 4th quarter. Heck, non-scholarship Lehigh was a play or two away from beating UNH.

I'd be surprised if it WASN'T within a possession at the start of the 4th. Lehigh and UNH were of very similar quality; if Holy Cross is at Lehigh's level, it should be close.

[crusader11]

Any chance of this game selling out with it being UNH's home opener and family weekend?

[yorkcountyUNHfan]

Any chance of this game selling out with it being UNH's home opener and family weekend?

UNH will never have a sell out. They will sell out the seats (6500 +/-), they do that all the time.

UNH will sell GA tickets until...well....the cows come home

[Go...gate]

Two great colleges go toe to toe. I want them both to win. Familial partisanship has me pulling for the Crusaders, but this is real "college football" as it should be played.

Amen.

[crusader11]

UNH will never have a sell out. They will sell out the seats (6500 +/-), they do that all the time.

UNH will sell GA tickets until...well....the cows come home

Thanks. I got hooked up with a few tix, but was just curious. Decent tailgating scene?

[Lehigh Football Nation]

This looks like it should be a whale of a game. Just wish it were on ESPN3 or TV so I could catch it live without forking over $10! :(

[truthteller]

Thanks. I got hooked up with a few tix, but was just curious. Decent tailgating scene?

So who are you going to support ===your close friend or the Worcester Wannabees

[crusader11]

My "close friend" is doing a decent job this year, eh?

And, to answer your question, HC all the way.

[yorkcountyUNHfan]

My "close friend" is doing a decent job this year, eh?

And, to answer your question, HC all the way.

Are you a Southside Johnny fan too?

[UNHWILDCATS05]

Thanks. I got hooked up with a few tix, but was just curious. Decent tailgating scene?

As it is the first home game, New England opponent, benefit for two former UNH players, and the team has won the last two, I would expect a very large turnout and great tailgating scene... may depend somewhat on the weather... but I think it will be a large crowd either way...

[yorkcountyUNHfan]

Thanks. I got hooked up with a few tix, but was just curious. Decent tailgating scene?

UNH's tailgating is getting better and better every year...we have a looooooooooooooong way to go to catch up to our friend in the south though.
It looks like some rain tomorrow. That may hold the crowd down a bit. To bad, today is great football weather.
I think we could have 10k+

If you get there early enough swing by the Cat-Club tent. I'm out of town, but ALUM_CT and '05 will be there.

[RichH2]

Good luck Crusaders. We came close. I hope you guys can put them away

[Sader87]

Not sure if my colleague, '87, would agree.

On the contrary...this is a fabulous game for us. I have no delusions (as delusional as I appear at times) of playing FBS football....just top-level FCS football with the occasional FBS opponent thrown in here and there once a year.

[crusader11]

On the contrary...this is a fabulous game for us. I have no delusions (as delusional as I appear at times) of playing FBS football....just top-level FCS football with the occasional FBS opponent thrown in here and there once a year.

I knew you were thinking along these lines, 87. But, I have always been under the impression you thought that without scholarships, HC isn't truly playing "real college football."

See you at the game tomorrow?

[UNH Fanboi]

Anyone in Durham? What's the weather like?

[UNHFootballAlum]

no RJ Harris today

[R3TRO]

UNH setting up the play action? Nice. 7-0 UNH

[UNHFan]

UNH Coverage now moving to low level High School coverage but its an upgrade from previous season

[PantherRob82]

online feeds?

[dwtime]

UNH up 7-3

[R3TRO]

Its $9.95 and unless you love UNH.. the production isn't worth the cost.

[R3TRO]

Interception Asam! First one Taggart has thrown in a while.

[dwtime]

Holy Cross intercepted by Manny Asam. UNH ball on the UNH 39

[dwtime]

UNH 1st down at the Holy Cross 40

[dwtime]

UNH 1st down at the 27 of Holy Cross

[dwtime]

Peters gives up the ball at the two touchback for Holy Cross. You can't give up points like that.

[R3TRO]

Horrible attempted tackle by Flemings on that.

[dwtime]

UNH still can't tackle.....

[dwtime]

And can't cover receivers......

[UNH72Plus]

Where are the defensive backs?

[R3TRO]

Here we go again.

[dwtime]

Easy touch down for Holy Cross, what else is new?

[dwtime]

Holy Cross up 10-7

[dwtime]

UNH on the Holy Cross 39

[dwtime]

31 TD Mangieri!!!!

[UNHFan]

WOW!!! Decker is an ANIMAL!!! What a leap!

[dwtime]

Decker goes for two and get it UNH up 15-10

[R3TRO]

Setian is so nasty. WHY does he not touch the ball more? 15-10 UNH

[R3TRO]

At some point, UNH is going to have to make an adjustment on these short passes.

[UNH72Plus]

Missed tackle, HC first down.

[R3TRO]

UNH is so lucky Woods dropped that pass. This is so painful to watch.

[dwtime]

26 Yd FG for Holly Cross, UNH up 15-13

[dwtime]

How can the refs call touchy feely pass interference and not call that on Holy Cross?

[dwtime]

UNH 1st and 10 at the Holy Cross 13.

[dwtime]

UNH TD called back by a penalty we are killing ourselves.

[R3TRO]

That's 14 potential points off the board with a fumble on the goal line and a TD called back for holding.

[dwtime]

UNH FG score 18-13 UNH

[hvsader]

...according to UNH announcers, if it weren't for UNH mistakes they could have a lot more points

[R3TRO]

McNally clearly being held. No call per the norm.

[R3TRO]

Finally they go to Setian in a short yardage situation.

[R3TRO]

TD Orlando. 25-13 UNH

[URMite]

Why is Harris out for UNH?

[R3TRO]

Injured at the end of the UR game. No details yet on what the injury is or the severity.

[UNH72Plus]

Why is Harris out for UNH?

The local paper said he got a chest injury.

[URMite]

I didn't see it at the game...

[R3TRO]

UNH gets lucky AGAIN! that HC misses ANOTHER extra point.

[UNH72Plus]

Just pathetic! But HC keeps us even with a second extra point. Is it time to take the redshirt off a couple of true freshmen d-backs? They can't be any worse than this gang of losers!

[R3TRO]

I can't watch these games anymore. They're too stressful.

[dwtime]

What a suprise UNH gives up a TD

[dwtime]

Mello with a 61 yard TD catch with about 1 min left!!!!!!

[dwtime]

Holy Cross blitzed on 3rd and long and paid for it

[dwtime]

Man Decker throws a good bomb!!!!!

[dwtime]

22 seconds left

[dwtime]

15 seconds left UNH up by 7

[dwtime]

9 seconds left

[dwtime]

4 seconds left 1 play left

[dwtime]

Ball on the 33

[R3TRO]

UNH wins 39-32. Ugh.......

[dwtime]

Incomplete UNH wins 39-32, whew!

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

UNH wins 39-32. Ugh.......

UNH fans can gripe but they've played a ridiculously tough schedule and have a 3-1 record.

[UNH72Plus]

I'm going go throw up!

[dwtime]

UNH wins 39-32. Ugh....... Ugh, whew, any relief word applies.

[VaUNHfan]

These UNH games are nothing if not exciting.

[Sader87]

Great effort by the Saders....I feared a blowout...heartened (though saddened) with the close loss....btw, kid who won the game (Mello) with the late TD was coached (in hoop and tennis) by yours truly in high school.

[R3TRO]

Good to see Peters have a 100+ game.

[UNHFan]

2 things I see so far this season... 1 we couldnt stop Holy Cross class of 60 if they played us at there current ages... and 2 is we win a National Title with Decker starting last season

OK one's a stretch! so Congrats HC Class of 60xlolx

[Bogus Megapardus]

btw, kid who won the game (Mello) with the late TD was coached (in hoop and tennis) by yours truly in high school.

Let me guess - he coulda played in the Big East . . . xrotatehx

Congrats to the Crusaders on a well-played game. This one was what college football is all about.

[RichH2]

Congrats to both squads. Cross qb had an awesome day. LU-HC will be one hell of a game. Noticed Gate cruised with Eachus back in the running.

[Sader87]

Let me guess - he coulda played in the Big East . . . xrotatehx

Congrats to the Crusaders on a well-played game. This one was what college football is all about.

No, but he may have played at HC if we had scholarships...and perhaps a less restrictive AI.

[Go...gate]

Sounds like a great game.

[Bogus Megapardus]

No, but he may have played at HC if we had scholarships...and perhaps a less restrictive AI.

Allow the scholarships but keep the AI, and you've got a deal. Final offer.

[UNH72Plus]

Congrats to both squads. Cross qb had an awesome day. LU-HC will be one hell of a game. Noticed Gate cruised with Eachus back in the running.

He played a great game and threw some awesome passes, but how many of his completions were to receivers with nobody within 10 yards of them. Our d-backs are awful!

[Sader87]

Allow the scholarships but keep the AI, and you've got a deal. Final offer.

Pass...the non-league schedule for HC has been fabulous so far...unfortunately the PL games await...

[crusader11]

Giving Kevin Decker and the UNH offense the ball back with 2:30 remaining in the game and 3 timeouts was going to be tough to overcome. That being said, Holy Cross was one 3rd down away from forcing UNH to punt the ball back to HC. We sent our safety Cav Koch on a safety blitz on 3rd and 8, and Justin Mello got past our CB Andrew Zitnik who had no help over the top. Decker lofts the pass right into Mello's bread basket and that was all she wrote.

A great, great college football game...one that I hope remains on the schedule for years to come.

This is a very good Holy Cross team. If they falter in the PL (to Lehigh most likely), I hope they receive an at-large bid as they could definitely win a game or two. Same goes for Lehigh (if they lose to HC in the PL).

[crusader11]

Oh, and is there even a question anymore that Kevin Decker should have been the starter last year? Answer is pretty obvious.

[danefan]

Oh, and is there even a question anymore that Kevin Decker should have been the starter last year? Answer is pretty obvious.

I was waiting for this.

[crusader11]

I was waiting for this.

Disagree with it?

[danefan]

Disagree with it?

No opinion either way. I just appreciate the steadfastness of your position.

[crusader11]

Been harping on this same issue since Toman struggled in the playoffs a few years ago against UNI and SIU (the defense was largely responsible for much of UNH's success). Just a damn shame Decker will only have one year to show his capabilities and lead UNH.

I wonder if Coach Mac regrets not playing Decker at all last year...especially in the playoff game against Delaware.

Was it a stubborn/pride issue for him? Toman being a year older and having been the starter for a couple years already? The success that Toman had (it wasn't like he was losing many games)? The fact that Decker left the UNH program by transferring to Trinity, and then transferred back to UNH? Not sure what it was, but there is little doubt he should have been the starter last year (and maybe even the year before too).

[Wildcat80]

Crusader.....i was very surprised at the "2 minute" drive you had to end the game. I bet the entire UNH crowd was worried HC would do what we just did to you....yet you only threw the jump ball to end the game. very very strange. but hey thanks! The Lehigh game should be outstanding if you like offense!

[Wildcat80]

These UNH games are nothing if not exciting.

Amen!!! We better get used to it...every one will be this way....which may end up being just fine.

[UNHWILDCATS05]

crusader11 - Curious to hear about your trip up, how your tailgating went, etc.

Great game! Very happy the rain held out.

[crusader11]

My first time to UNH for a football game...really enjoyed the experience.

My initial reaction while walking over to the visitors stands was that UNH football deserves much, much better. The facilities are sub-par and really need to be improved. How good of a program UNH is, is a real testament to Coach Mac. The old building behind the home stands looks like an old factory/warehouse, the visiting stands are very low to the ground and provide terrible vantage points, and the scoreboard needs to be torn down and replaced pronto. Sorry for ranting, but you guys (UNH football) deserves a whole lot better.

The tailgating was nice, but short-lived. You can only get down so much beer/food when the game begins at noon. I've always been a fan of the 2:00-3:00 start because it allows everyone (players included) to wake up a bit more. I found myself yawning most of the morning after a late Friday night.

Nice crowd at the game...looked to be a sell out or close to it. I spend most of the game chatting with a UNH fan who was very knowledgeable about FCS football...always nice to chat with someone who has a clue. He was very impressed with Holy Cross and not too surprised that we played UNH down to the final minutes.

Good trip all around. Hope we meet again in the playoffs!

[WrenFGun]

Been harping on this same issue since Toman struggled in the playoffs a few years ago against UNI and SIU (the defense was largely responsible for much of UNH's success). Just a damn shame Decker will only have one year to show his capabilities and lead UNH.

I wonder if Coach Mac regrets not playing Decker at all last year...especially in the playoff game against Delaware.

Was it a stubborn/pride issue for him? Toman being a year older and having been the starter for a couple years already? The success that Toman had (it wasn't like he was losing many games)? The fact that Decker left the UNH program by transferring to Trinity, and then transferred back to UNH? Not sure what it was, but there is little doubt he should have been the starter last year (and maybe even the year before too).

McDonell absolutely made, 100%, the wrong decision. There is unfortunately nothing we can about it now, but I agree, UNH may have been the FCS champions last year with Decker. I think people were 100% justified to be clamoring for Decker based on the sample size we have now.

[UNH72Plus]

You're right on all counts re: the facilities, but until we we find a private deep pocket, the chances of any significant improvements are slim. The university system as a whole took some draconian budget cuts this last year and with one of the highest in-state tuitions in the country it's going to be hard to justify spending state money on improvements. The football program got a lucky break a few years ago when Jerry Azuma (UNH alum, Payton Award winner, and former Chicago Bear) gave a very generous donation to use for new weight room equipment. One longterm proposal I heard about is to construct a new facility where the visitor's stands are, but again, somebody's got to pony up the funds.